1Memorializing the Senate of the United States to reject the
2United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

3WHEREAS, The right of parents to direct the upbringing and
4education of their children is a fundamental right protected by
5the Constitution of the United States; and

6WHEREAS, Our nation has historically relied first and
7foremost on parents to meet the real and constant needs of
8children; and

9WHEREAS, The interests of children are best served when
10parents are free to make child-rearing decisions about
11education, religion and other areas of a child's life without
12state interference; and

13WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court, in Wisconsin v. 
14Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), held that "(t)his primary role of
15the parents in the upbringing of their children is now
16established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition";
17and

18WHEREAS, However, in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000),

1Supreme Court justices issued five concurring and dissenting
2opinions on the nature and enforceability of parental rights
3under the Constitution of the United States; and

4WHEREAS, The decision in Troxel v. Granville has created
5confusion and ambiguity about the fundamental nature of parental
6rights in the laws and society of several states; and

7WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
8Child has been proposed and soon may be considered for
9ratification by the United States Senate; and

10WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
11Child would drastically alter the fundamental right of parents
12to direct the upbringing of their children; and

13WHEREAS, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
14Child has been acceded to by 192 nations worldwide and has been
15cited by United States courts as "customary international law";
16and

17WHEREAS, International influence is being exerted on the
18United States Supreme Court, as demonstrated in Roper v. 
19Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005), in which it was expressed that
20"the Court has referred to the laws of other countries and to
21the international authorities as instructive for its
22interpretation" of the Constitution of the United States;
23therefore be it

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
25Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Senate of the United
26States to reject the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
27the Child; and be it further

28RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
29the President of the United States Senate and both members of
30the Senate from Pennsylvania.